Director, Partner Relations & Food Access

Career Blazers Nonprofit Search; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan with employer‑a

Generous paid time off

Parental leave

On-site gym

ThrivePass wellness benefit

$250 referral bonus

Job summary

Career Blazers Nonprofit Search in Chicago, IL is hiring a Director of Partner Relations and Support to lead the Partner Relations team, oversee day-to-day operations, program management, and partner-facing initiatives that advance food access and equity.

You will build strong partnerships across operations, procurement, technology, and community engagement, coach staff, measure performance, and drive continuous improvement while ensuring service standards align with organizational mission.

Qualifications

• Equivalent experience or Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in partner relations, community engagement, or related fields.
• Experience leading teams and cross-functional programs within nonprofit or food access sectors.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Partner Relations team to deliver high-quality support and a strong partner experience.
• Oversee partner relationships to ensure engagement aligns with values, service standards, and equity-centered practices.
• Lead the implementation of food access programs and partner-facing initiatives with timely execution.
• Collaborate with Operations, Inventory Control, Procurement, Technology, Community Engagement, and Policy & Advocacy.
• Monitor program performance, prepare reports, and provide insights to senior leadership.
• Drive system enhancements, process improvements, and partner-facing tools including CRM.

Skills

Partner relations

Team leadership

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CRM platforms

Data tools

Project management tools

Job description

Career Blazers Nonprofit Search in Chicago, IL is hiring a Director of Partner Relations and Support to lead the Partner Relations team, oversee day-to-day operations, program management, and partner-facing initiatives that advance food access and equity.

You will build strong partnerships across operations, procurement, technology, and community engagement, coach staff, measure performance, and drive continuous improvement while ensuring service standards align with organizational mission.